Device for adjusting and permanently indicating the working conditions of worker roller nap-raising machines



@at 28, 31958 I A. c. SCHOLAERT 2,8515% DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND PERMANENTLY INDICATING THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF WORKER ROLLER NAP-RAISING MACHINES Filed June 15, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1.

KNVENTorz: I Afberfi C. Scholazfi Gm, 28 ESQ A. c. SCHOLAERT 298573649 DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND PERMANENTLY INDICATING THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF WORKER RQLLER NAP-RAISING MACHINES Filed. June 15, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI Alerzi' C.Scho/aer viQig ATTOILNE 5 S Oct. 28, 1958 A. c. SCHOLAERT L DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND PERMANENTLY INDICATING THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF WORKER ROLLER NAP-RAISING MACHINES Filed June 15, 1956 e Sheets-Sheet a lNvr-zmoz Y Alber C.Scho/aerf ATTO (LN E 35 0d. 28, 1958 1 A. c. SCHOLAERT 2,857,649

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND PERMANENTLY INDICATING THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF WORKER ROLLER I NAP-RAISING MACHINES Filed June 15, 1956 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A-TTOkNEtiS Oct, 28, 1958 -A. c. SCHOLAERT 2,857,649 I DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND PERMANENTLY INDICATING THE WORKING CONDITIONS 'OF WORKER ROLLER NAP-RAISING MACHINES Filed June 15, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q5 Lt.

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/ DEVICE F OR ADJUSTING AND PERMANENTLY INDICATING THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF WORKER ROLLER NAP-RAISING MACHINES Filed June 15, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 OlJiL gw/L ATTOKNEBS Patented Oct. 28, 1958 DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND PERMANENTLY INDICATING THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF WORKER ROLLER NAP-RAISING MACHINES Albert C. Scholaert, Tourcoing, France Application June 15, 1956, Serial No. 591,678 Claims priority, application France June 24, 1955 8 Claims. (Cl. 26-29) The present invention relates to devices for adjusting :and indicating the working conditions of worker roller nap-raising machines.

It is known that, in these machines, the fabric to be scratched passes on a rotary drum carrying, on its periphery, worker rollers or rollers fitted with a clothing of nap-raising ribbon which scratches the fabric. The relative speed of the active points of these clothings with respect to the fabric is the resultant of the linear travelling speed of the fabric in the machine, of the surface speed of the drum (as considered on the diameter of the clothings) and of the rotational speed of the worker rollers on the drum.

According to the values of the various component speeds, at more or less thorough scratching effect will be obtained. In the explanations given hereinunder, the value of this relative speed will be called intensity of scratching.

Devices are already known which indicate the intensity of scratching for a predetermined travelling speed of the fabric. However, with these devices, when the travelling speed of the fabric is modified, it is necessary, in order to know the new value of the intensity of scratching, to correct the indication given by the device for taking into account the variation of the travelling speed of the fabric. Obviously, these devices are not of a very practical use. Furthermore, they do not take into account the diameter of the worker-rollers, and, particularly, its variation after grinding, or after replace ment of the clothing, so that, in order to know the exact value of the 'intensity of scratching, it is again necessary to make corrections corresponding to'the actual size of the worker-rollers. e

The object of'the invention is to fill these gaps by providing an automatic device which makes 'it possible to know instantaneously the intensity of scratching, regardless of the value of the travelling speed of the fabric. 7

To this effect the indicating device according to the invention comprises: a stationary support, a first element movable with respecttosaid support and the, position of which on this support isat each instant distant from an original position by a length which is proportional'to the travelling speed of the fabric at the instant considered, and a second element movable with respect to said support and the position of which on'this support is at each instant distant from an original position by a length proportional to; the increase or the decrease in the speed of the workerroll'ers, both aforesaid distances being measured in the same direction and the relative position of the two movable aforesaid elements being indicated by a graduation which gives the value of the intensity of scratching.

In this disposition, since the speed of the drum is constant, itwill be seen that there is provided a difierential system which permanently indicates the algebraic diiference between the travelling speed of the fabric and the linear speed of the points of'the worker-rollers, said 2 difference giving the magnitude of the intensity of scratching.

The invention has also for its object embodiments comprising at least one of the following features:

(a) Means are provided for shifting the original position of the second movable element inresponseto the diameter of the worker-rollers;

(b) The first movable element is a circular disc and a second movable element is a pointer coaxial with said disc; v v (c) The first movable element is connected with the adjusting member of a speed variator placed in the device for controlling the progression of the fabric;

(d) In the case indicated under (c), the connection between the first movable element and said adjusting member of the variator comprises a cam of.suita.ble

outline in order to ensure the proportionality of the displacements of said movable element with respect to.

the travelling speeds of the fabric; (e) The second movable element is connected to the a adjusting member of the variator controlling the workerrollers;

(f) The second movable element is actuated through the medium of an adjustable connection which constitutes the means indicated under (a) for shifting the original position;

(g) Means are provided for indicating the-position of the first movable element with respect to the support, that is to say the travelling speedof-the fabric;

(h) Said means for indicating the travelling speedv recited under (g) are constituted by a graduation carried by said support in front of which moves a datum mark for instance a window of the first movable element, saiddatum mark being, preferably, located at the origin'of the graduation which makes it possible to know the relative position of the second movable element with respect to the first;

(i) When the machine comprises several groups of' Worker-rollers and, particularly, so-called pile workerrollers .and so-called counter-pile worker-rollers, there is provided an indicating device, such as defined in the preceding paragraphs, associated with each worker-rollers.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-restrictive example, one' embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical end view of the system for controlling the worker-rollers,

Fig. 4 is, on a larger scale, a sectionon line IVIV of Fig. 2, showing the synchronizing box of the-indicating device and of the variator for the control of the progressionof the fabric,

Fig. 5 is a section on line VV of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a section on line VI-VI of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a front view, on a larger scale, of one'of the two indicating devices represented in Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a section on line VIIIVIII of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is adetailed view of Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, there is seen a shaft 1 which carries a drum 2 (Fig. 3) of a nap-raising machine,

' on the cylindrical surface of which are mounted so-called sandwiched with so-called group of' with chain pinions on which passes a single chain 5 driven by a chain-wheel 6 loosely mounted on the drum shaft 1. The chain-wheel 6 is rigid with another chain-wheel 7, which, in the example represented, has the same diameter as the chain-wheel 6, so that these two wheels coincide in Fig. 3. The wheel 7 is driven by a chain 8 which passes on a power chain-wheel 9 (Fig. l) fixed on a shaft 11 journalled in the machine frame. All the pile workerrollers 3, thus, are rotatively driven on themselves from the shaft 11.

In a similar manner, all the counter-pile workerrollers 4 are rotatively driven on themselves by means of an assembly of pinions and chains arranged near the other end of the drum 2 and driven by a shaft 12 (Fig. 1). The shaft 11 is rotatively driven from a shaft 13, through a belt 14 which passes on two cones 15, 16 respectively fixed on the two shafts 11 and 13. The ratio of the speeds of these two shafts may be varied by shifting the belt 14 along the generatrices of the cones by means of fork or belt-shifter 18 carried by arms 19 rigid with a nut (not shown) movable on a control threaded spindle 21 which may be rotated by means of a handwheel 22 according to a known conventional disposition.

In a similar manner, the shaft 12 may be driven at a variable speed from a shaft 23 through an identical drive with cones 24, 25 on which passes a belt 26. The ratio of the speeds of the two shafts 12 and 23 may be adjusted by means of the hand-wheel 27.

Both shafts 13 and 23 are driven by the main motor of the machine at a constant speed through a suitable connection (not shown) and, therefore, it is they which drive both groups of pile and counter-pile workerrollers.

The drum 2 which carries the worker-rollers and which is rigid with the shaft 1 is also rotatively driven at a constant speed.

Finally, the fabric 31 to be scratched passes on the worker-roller carrying drum and on two path rollers 28, 29, one of which, namely the exit roller 28, is a take-up roller carried by a shaft 32 (Figs. 1, 2, 3) on which is fixed a chain-wheel 33 connected by a chain 34 with a chain-wheel 35 mounted on the output shaft of a speed variator 36 the input shaft of which carries a chain-wheel 37 receiving its movement from a chainwheel 38 fixed on the power shaft 13. The ratio of the speeds of the input and output shafts of the variator 36 may be modified by means of a hand-wheel 39 keyed on a shaft 41 which carries a chain-wheel 42 connected by a chain 43 with another chain-wheel 44 fixed on the shaft 45 for adjusting the ratio of the input and output speeds of the variator. This variator, therefore, permits of varying the travelling speed of the fabric through the machine.

All the members described so far are conventional members and are no part of the invention. The latter lies in the automatic device for indicating the operating conditions of the machine, as hereinunder described.

Near the hand-wheel 22 for adjusting the speed of the pile worker-rollers is arranged a special multiple dial generally indicated as at 47 on Fig. 1, on which the intensity of scratching, either positive or negative, of the pile worker-rollers may be permanently observed.

A special multiple dial 48 placed near the hand-wheel 27 for adjusting the speed of the counter-pile workerrollers indicates, in a similar manner, the intensity of scratching of said counter-pile worker-rollers.

Both multiple dials 47, 48 are identical and represented in detail on Figs. 7 and 8. They each comprise a stationary dial 51 mounted on the standard 52 of the machine, for instance by means of countersunk screws 53. On this stationary dial 51, which is represented alone on Fig. 9, are indicated the travelling speeds of the fabric in meters per minute, by way of mere reference marks which facilitate the initial adjustment of the machine.

A movable dial 54 is applied against the stationary dial 51 and it is secured to one end of a sleeve 55 adapted to rotate freely in a corresponding bore of the standard 52. The movable dial 54 has a graduation 56 of which the zero, or point of origin, is constituted by a window 57 located at the end of a radius equal to that of the graduation of the stationary dial 51, so that the travelling speed of the fabric may be read through the window 57. From the origin window 57, the graduation 56 comprises a positive zone identified by the sign and, in the reverse direction, a negative zone identified by the sign Fixed on the sleeve 55 is a toothed pinion 58 (see also Figs. 1 and 2), in mesh with a toothed wheel 59 rigid with a chain-wheel 61 connected by a chain 62 to a chainpinion 63 carried by a synchronizing box 64 which will be reverted to hereinunder. These members are related to the pile worker-roller dial. As concerns the dial 48 for the counter-pile worker-rollers, a similar connection 58, 59', 61', 62', 63 is provided.

Within the sleeve 55 (Fig. 8) may rotate freely a shaft 66 on the outer end of which a plate 68 is secured by a pin 67. Loosely mounted on the hub of the plate 68 is a pointer 69 formed with an extension in which is mounted a thumb screw 71, the end of which is engaged into one out of a series of holes 72 arranged on a circular arc concentric with the axis of the pointer, through the plate 68. The extension of the pointer 69 has an aperture 73 through which it is possible to read indications such as the graduation 74 carried by the plate 68 and which corresponds to the diameter of the worker-rollers. In the drawings, the digits of this graduation represent the diameter of the worker-rollers as expressed in millimeters. A washer 75, secured endwise on the shaft 66 by a countersunk screw 76, retains the pointer 69 by its hub and prevents it from sliding out of the hub of the plate 68.

Secured on the shaft 66 is a pinion 91 (Fig. 8), in mesh with another pinion 92 (Fig. 1) rigid with a vertical shaft 93 which carries a worm-wheel 94 in mesh with a worm 95 rigid with the shaft 21 of the handwheel 22 for adjusting the pile worker-roller speed variator. The pointer 69, therefore, is deflected by an angle proportional to the angle the handwheel 22 of the pile worker-roller variator is rotated. Given the slight taper of the cones of this variator, it may be assumed with a sufiicient approximation that the increase or decrease in the speed of the upper cone 15 is substantially proportional to the angle the adjusting handwheel is rotated, all over the adjustment area.

The pointer of the other indicator related to the counter-pile worker-rollers is connected to the handwheel 27 for controlling the corresponding variator through an identical connection 92', 93', 94 and 95'.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6, description will be given of the structure of the synchronizing box 64 which ensures the correct position of both movable dials in response to the travelling speed of the fabric.

Both chain pinions 63, 63', which drive the movable dials are respectively fixed on two shafts 78, 79 which are journalled in the synchronizing box 64 and on which are secured two identical gear wheels 81, 82. The shaft 79 is adapted to be rotationally driven by a toothed wheel 83 rigid with said shaft and in mesh with a toothed rack 84 mounted in a slideway 80.

The rack 84 is itself driven by a cam 85 in the shape of a spiral groove in which runs a follower 86 adapted to rotate freely on a pin 87 mounted in one end of the rack 84. The cam 85 is fixed on a shaft 88 driven by the shaft 41 (see also Fig. 1) for controlling the fabric travelling speed variator, through the medium of a reducing gear train 910, 92a, 93a, 94a.

The reason why the cam 85 has been incorporated into the mechanism is the following:

It is needed, as will be seen hereinunder, to make the movable dial pivot by an angle proportional to the variation of speed the fabric is subjected to. Now, generally speaking, and in the particular case here contemplated of a variator with extensible conical sheaves, the variation of speed of the output shaft of the variator is not proportional to the angle the adjusting handwheel 39 of the variator is rotated. The speed variation is not uniform all over the adjustment area. This is why, be tween the shaft 41 for controlling the adjustment of the output speed of the variator and both shafts 78, 79 which control the movable dials, there is inserted a connection which comprises a cam 85, the profile of which is so designed that, when the handwheel 39 is rotated one complete revolution, for instance, the output speed of the variator, that is to say the travelling speed of the fabric varies in a certain proportion, and the movable dials pivot by an angle proportional to said variation in the speed of the fabric.

The operation of the indicating device'which has just been described is the following:

It will be assumed that the travelling speed of the fabric is of 32 m./mn. for instance. Under these conditions, the windows of both movable dials let the numeral 32 of both stationary dials appear, as may be seen on Fig. 7 which shows the pile worker-roller dial. The speed of the pile worker-rollers is adjusted, for instance, for a positive intensity of scratching equal to +3, as indicated by the pointer 69. The speed of the counterpile worker-rollers also is adjusted to a suitable value which needs not be defined here, the explanation which will be given on the pile worker-rollers being applicable, in the same manner, to the counter-pile workers-rollers.

If it is now assumed that it is desired, for instance, to reduce the travelling speed of the fabric down to 28 m./mn., the hand-wheel 39 for controlling the variator 36 is rotated in the suitable direction in order to bring the surface speed of the path roller 28 to 28 m./mn. As a rule, the machine is already fitted with an indicator of a suitable conventional type, for instance a tachometer, which makes it possible to appreciate the adjustment position in which the desired travelling speed of the fabric is reached. Furthermore, at this moment, the numeral 28 of the stationary dial appears in the window 57 of the movable dials which has been brought precisely in register with this numeral under the effect of the kinematic connection comprising the following elements: gear train 91a, 92a, 93a, 94a, cam 85, follower 86, rack 84, toothed pinion 83, toothed pinions 82, 81, chain pinions 63, 63', chains 62, 62', chain wheels 61, 61', toothed wheels 59, 59', toothed pinions 58, 58', sleeves 55, 55 and movable dials 54, 54.

It is found that the pointer 69 is now positioned in register with the graduation 7 of the scale of the intensity of scratching, that is to say a value much greater than the initial value 3 which corresponded to the travelling speed of the fabric of 32 m./mn. This may be understood, since the speed of the fabric is reduced while that of the worker rollers has not yet been modified.

In order to obtain the desired intensity of scratching for the pile worker rollers, it is sufficient to turn the handwheel 22 in the suitable direction and number of turns, in order to bring the pointer 69 onto the numeral which represents this desired intensity of scratching. This operation of the handwheel 22 ensures the shifting of the belt 14 on the cones 15, 16 of the variator which controls the pile worker rollers through the chain 8, so that said rollers rotate at the suitable speed.

Thev counter-pile worker roller variator will also be adjusted by means of the handwheel 27 while the pointer of the indicator 48 is being observed.

In any case, the window 57 of the movable dials is always positioned on the zero of the scale of intensity of scratching regardless of the travelling speed imparted to the fabric.

For any speed of the fabric, in order to obtain a given intensity of scratching, either positive or nega tive, for the pile worker rollers as'well as for the, counter-pile worker rollers, it is sufficient to operate' the respective handwheels oi the variators of these worker rollers in such a manner as to bring the pointer of the corresponding indicator in register with the numeral which represents the intensity of scratching sought for. The reading is instantaneous and no computation is'to be made nor are the indications to be corrected accordof scratching. The device which has been described hereinabove enables any variation in the diameter of the worker rollers to be immediately compensated; To this effect, it is suflicient to shift the pointer 69 with respect to the plate 68 which carries it, by such an angle that the numeral which represents the diameter of the worker rollers in service appears through the aperture 73 of the pointer 69. For this purpose, the thumb screw 71 will first be loosened in order to release the pointer from the plate, then, after adjustment, it will be clamped again. This operation has for its effect to shift the pointer on the movable dial so that when it is then brought back upon the desired division through control of the Worker roller speed variators, the suitable speed of the worker rollers and, therefore, the desired intensity of scratching", are automatically restored.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and represented which has been given by way of example and many modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art, according to the applications contemplated, without the scope of the invention being thereby departed from.

Thus, if the machine comprises but one group of worker rollers, either pile or counter-pile, it is obvious that a single indicating device will be sufficient. Conversely, for a greater number of groups of worker rollers, an indicating device may be provided for each group of worker rollers.

Furthermore, the set of holes 72 might be replaced by an elongated hole allowing a continuous adjustment.

In another order of ideas, for the concept of travelling speed of the fabric in the machine might be substituted that of the number of worker rollers with which a predetermined point of the fabric comes into contact during its passage on the drum.

What I claim is:

1. Device for adjusting and permanently indicating the working conditions of worker roller nap-raising machines provided with a first speed variator for adjusting the travelling speed of the fabric to be nap-raised in the machine and a second speed variator for adjusting the speed of the worker rollers, each of said speed variators having its own control member, said device comprising in combination: a stationary support, a first element movable with respect to said support and operatively connected to the control member of said first variator by a. first connection so designed that the distance of said first element from an original position thereof on said support at every moment is proportional to the travelling speed of the fabric at the moment considered, and a second element movable with respect to said support and operatively connected to the control member of said second variator by a second connection so designed that the distance of said second element from an original position thereof on said support at every moment is proportional to the increase or the decrease in the speed of the worker rollers, both aforesaid distances being measured in the same oriented direction and the relative position of both aforesaid movable elements being indicated by a graduation.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the original position of the second movable element on the support is adjustable, whereby the diameter of the worker rollers mayv be taken into consideration.

3. Device according to, claim 1, wherein the first movable element is a rotary circular disc and the second movable element is a pointer. coaxial with said disc and rotatable thereon.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first con ncction includes a cam of suitable outline and a cam follower cooperating withsaid cam.

5. Device according to claim 2, wherein said second connection includes two parts adjustable with respect to each other in the direction of movement in order to pro vide for adjustment of the original position of the second movable element on the support.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein identifying means are provided for identifying the position of the first movable element on the support, whereby indication is given of the travelling speed of the fabric.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein said identifying means are constituted by a graduation can'ied by the support and on which moves a datum mark of the first movable element.

8. Device according to claim 7 wherein said datum mark is located at the origin of the graduation which shows the position of the second movable element with respect to the first.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 696,437 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1953 

